Groundwork Gatherings – Before We Build, We Belong

That gathering was Raleigh Wide Open, a street festival launched not after the completion of downtown Raleigh’s revival, but right in the thick of it. It was a moment of collective imagination, a joyful, messy, open-hearted celebration that welcomed people into the city’s future before it had even fully taken shape.

At a time when Fayetteville Street was still re-emerging from its era as a pedestrian mall, and when many questioned whether downtown could truly feel alive again, Raleigh Wide Open offered a clear answer: gathering comes first.

I was early in my career during that time. I watched and learned as Raleigh laid the foundation for new infrastructure and a renewed sense of place. The lesson I carried forward, and one that still shapes how I see cities, is this:

We don’t build a place and hope people show up. We gather first, and through that act, we discover what the place can become.

I now call this philosophy “Groundwork Gatherings.” It is the belief that belonging precedes design, that places come to life through shared experience, and that joy is infrastructure.

From Reopening to Reimagining
The original Raleigh Wide Open did more than mark a grand reopening. It cleared a path forward. It anticipated what downtown could be long before City Plaza was created, the Convention Center was constructed, and the Red Hat Amphitheater became a mainstay.

Today, Raleigh finds itself at another inflection point. The Convention Center is expanding, Red Hat Amphitheater is relocating, and new hotels are rising on the horizon. But even as our physical footprint grows, our foot traffic has not fully returned after the pandemic.

That’s why we are bringing back Raleigh Wide Open, not just as a throwback, but as a forward-looking festival rooted in bluegrass, Americana, and the spirit of community that helped shape this city the first time. It’s an invitation to gather again, to reconnect with the heart of downtown, and to remind ourselves what made this place special in the first place.

What I Learned and Who I Learned It From
During those early years, I was fortunate to learn from people who understood that placemaking wasn’t about pouring concrete. It was about pouring coffee, sharing stories, and showing up.

The late Roger Krupa, whose commitment to the arts made downtown vibrant before it was fashionable.

Mayor Charles Meeker’s vision for a connected and walkable Raleigh helped us see beyond asphalt and traffic lights.

Mara Craft, now General Manager of the Raleigh Convention Center, whose work then and now reminds us that hospitality starts long before you reach a front desk. It begins when you feel like you belong.

And, Billy Warden, my mentor, friend, and former business partner, who, like the fictional Billy Flynn, taught me always to add a little razzle-dazzle to every event.

The Groundwork We Lay Now
What we saw in Raleigh then, and what we hope to inspire again, is that gathering is not the reward for good development. It is the source code. It’s how we test a street’s shape, the neighborhood’s vibe, and the block’s potential. We don’t need to wait for buildings to open to start building community.

“Groundwork Gatherings” is a philosophy that reminds us: the most powerful places begin not with plans, but with people.

Before the renderings and ribbon cuttings.

Before the stages and skylines.

Before anything else, we gather.

Let’s do that again.